Invention is an adapter device that with little effort or mechanical skill stops vehicle a/c leaks on R134a Freon non-serviceable hoses

ABSTRACT

An adapter device with TEFLON gasket that stops vehicle a/c system leaks on most R134a Freon non-serviceable a/c hoses. The adapter device with TEFLON gasket makes the hose “serviceable” by replacing the damaged “non-serviceable” service port with a new “serviceable” service port and valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

On May 24, 2012, I filed a Provisional Patent Application with UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office, which was assigned Application No.61/651,351. Application No. 61/651,351 relates to my invention.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

“Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Age, heat, and sometimes the tool used to charge a vehicle's a/c systemwith Freon damage the a/c unit's service port valves, which are locatedinside connecting hoses. When the service port valves are damaged, theunit leaks Freon. This reduces or ends the a/c unit's ability to blowcold air; and causes the Freon to be released into the atmosphere.

Many of the R134a Freon vehicle hoses have non-serviceable valves. Thus,replacing a damaged service port valve requires replacement of theentire hose and completely recharging the a/c system with Freon, whichis expensive. With my invention, non-serviceable hose replacement is notrequired to replace a damaged service port valve nor is a completesystem recharge. With my invention, individuals with a minimum ofmechanical skills can repair their R134a Freon service port leak withoutpaying a repair shop hundreds of dollars. Likewise, auto repair shopsmaking the repairs will save their customers substantial money becauseof the cost differential between the invention and new non-serviceablehoses and the cost Freon for a complete recharge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For those vehicles with non-serviceable hoses, the invention stops R134aFreon from leaking out of the service port a/c line, hose or dryer onvehicle a/c systems without replacing the hoses. The invention makes thehoses “serviceable” by replacing the damaged “non-serviceable” serviceport valve with a new “serviceable” service port adapter and valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The objectives and advantages of my invention are illustrated by thethree pages of drawings that show the parts that makeup the completeadapter device and represent the preferred embodiment of my invention:

FIG. 1 shows the Schrader valve for refrigerant

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the component parts of the High PressureSide R134a Service Port Aluminum Adapter Device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the Low PressureSide R134a Service Port Aluminum Adapter Device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention allows a vehicle owner or professional mechanic to repairsR134a Freon leaks in a vehicle's a/c system without having to replacenon-serviceable hoses and completely recharge the a/c system with R134aFreon. Because of the cost differential between non-serviceablereplacement hoses and R134a Freon and the invention, the invention is aninexpensive alternative solution to repairing Freon leaks.

The invention is made by manufacturing part (3), a High Pressure SideService Port Adapter Device, illustrated in FIG. 2 and part (5), a LowPressure Side Service Port Adapter Device, illustrated in FIG. 3, fromaluminum hex bars (hex bars are used to enable the adapter devices to bewrenched tight on installation) machined down to the specifications: forpart (3), top of device I.D. 8 MM, middle of device O.D. 16 MM andbottom of device O.D. 8 MM and machined down to the specifications forpart (5), top of device I.D. 8 MM, middle of device O.D. 13 MM andbottom of device O.D. 8 MM, which specifications are necessary to (1)screw parts (3) and (5) into a vehicle's non-serviceable High and LowSide service ports, (2) accept part (1) illustrated in FIG. 1, theSchrader Valve for refrigerant with a 5.30 mm×0.706 pitch, and (3)accept the Hi-Low quick connect service line for R134a Freon charging.

Part (4) illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a Teflon Gasket stamped-outfrom a sheet of Teflon to specification, 1/32 of an inch thick, toeffectuate a seal between the serviceable and non-serviceable ports.Note: Part (1) illustrated in FIG. 1 (the Schrader Valve for refrigerantwith a 5.30 mm×0.706 pitch) and part (2) in FIG. 2 (R134a Red PlasticCap for High Pressure Side) and the part (6) in FIG. 3 (R134a Blue LowSide Cap), are not manufactured by the inventor. Those parts arepurchased “off the shelf” for use in the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention works was follows:

Parts (3) and (5) illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the High and Low SideService Ports Adapter Devices respectively, which act as adapters andthe housing for part (1) illustrated in FIG. 1, a Schrader Valve forrefrigerant with a 5.30 mm×0.706 pitch. When parts (3) and (5)illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 (which each contain part (1) illustrated inFIG. 1) are screwed into the non-serviceable service ports of thevehicle's a/c system, the original leaking Schrader Valve forrefrigerant is replaced. Part (4) illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is aTeflon Gasket. When (4) is placed between the High and Low Side ServicePorts Adapter Devices and the non-serviceable service ports of thevehicle's a/c system, it acts as a seal between the non-serviceableservice ports and the new serviceable service ports, which allows part(1) illustrated in FIG. 1, to prevent the R134a Freon from leaking fromthe vehicle's a/c system.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is assembled and installed asfollows:

High Side service port adapter assemblage: Take part (3) illustrated inFIG. 2, the High Side R134a Service Port 16 mm O.D. Aluminum AdapterDevice, insert part (1) illustrated in FIG. 1 (the Schrader Valve forrefrigerant with a 5.30 mm×0.706 pitch) into part (3), then place part(4), the Teflon Gasket, on the threaded bottom of part (3), attach to HiSide non-serviceable service port and then screw on part (2) illustratedin FIG. 2, the R134a Red High Side Cap, onto part (3).

Low Side service port assemblage: Take part (5) illustrated in FIG. 3,the Low Side Service Ports Adapter Device, insert part (1) illustratedin FIG. 1 (the Schrader Valve for refrigerant with a 5.30 mm×0.706pitch) into part (5), then place part (4), the Teflon Gasket, on thethreaded bottom of part (5), attach to Low Side non-serviceable serviceport and charge with Freon then screw on part (6) illustrated in FIG. 3,the R134a Blue Low Side Cap, onto the part (5).

Installation of both the invention's low-side and high-side a/c serviceport adaptors is done as follows: (Note: if one is only installing oneof the adaptors use Step 2 for installing the low-side a/c service portadaptor or Step 3 for the high-side adaptor.

STEP ONE: To install the invention, one must first locate and identifythe correct a/c service port on the vehicle to attach the appropriateadaptor device. The vehicle's low-side has a larger line with a smallerservice port connecter. The vehicle's high-side has a smaller line witha larger service port connecter.

STEP TWO: Install the invention's low-side a/c service port adaptor:Remove the Blue Cap adapter device, parts (1), (5) and (6), from thepackage. Install part (4), the Teflon gasket, onto the threaded end.Then twist the Blue Cap adapter device (small) into the vehicle'slow-side service port (large line-small port) It will take a 13 mmwrench to snugly tighten the low-side a/c service port adaptor onto thevehicle's low-side a/c service port.

STEP THREE: Install the high-side a/c service port adaptor: Remove theRed Cap adapter device, parts (1), (3) and (2), from the package.Install part (4), the white Teflon gasket, onto the threaded end. Thentwist the Red Cap (large) into the vehicle's high-side service port(small line-large port). It will take a 16 mm wrench to snugly tightenthe adapter device high-side a/c service port adaptor onto the vehicle'shigh-side a/c service port.

STEP FOUR: The a/c system is now ready to be charged with Freon asneeded through the low-side a/c service port.

I claim:
 1. An adaptor device for stopping R134a Freon from leaking outof the service port a/c line, hose or dryer on vehicle a/c systems. Theadaptor device for claim 1 consists of aluminum hex bars machined downto specifications necessary to (1) screw into a vehicle'snon-serviceable High and Low Side service ports, (2) accept a SchraderValve for refrigerant and (3) accept the Hi-Low quick connect serviceline for R134a Freon charging.
 2. Claim 2 consists of a Teflon Gasketstamped-out from a sheet of Teflon b 1/32 of an inch in thickness tospecification to effectuate a seal between the serviceable andnon-serviceable ports and the adaptor device described in claim 1.